Hellcats Raising Interest

Off The Court, Team Has Its Share Of Concerns

Entertainment All Part Of Package

October 13, 1993|By ROY HASTY; Courant Staff Writer

With the opening of free agent camp today at Trinity College's Oosting Gymnasium, the Hartford Hellcats start determining who will fill the 10-man roster for the season opener at the Civic Center Nov. 20 against the Columbus Horizon.

But for the past four months, Hellcats general manager Rich Coffey has been concentrating mainly on the financial and marketing concerns of the franchise. Given that the Continental Basketball Association awarded Hartford the rights to the Capital Region Pontiacs on May 26, a solid financial foundation is as important to the Hellcats as a power forward who can run the court.

The climate hasn't been good.

The economy is still sputtering. The state's effort to keep the Whalers in town and the attempt to lure the Patriots from Massachusetts has diverted attention from the Hellcats. And summer is a tough time to sell basketball, especially when the potential client never has seen the team.

"There are a lot of things that have to be accomplished over the next month, from the standpoint of game operation. That's the thing I'm concerned about," Coffey said. "But yeah, I'm happy with where we are."

So is Arnold Fielkow, acting commissioner of the CBA.

The Hellcats made a presentation to CBA officials and team representatives during the league meetings in Denver Oct. 2-3. Based on that presentation, Fielkow said the Hellcats appear to be on pace to surpass the league average for attendance last season (3,369 a game) and that corporate support was good.

"I think they're making great strides," Fielkow said. "Rich has been through this before [with the Fort Wayne Fury] and has had success in getting a new franchise started.

"Along with Columbus, Hartford is one of the most competitive markets in the CBA, so I think they've done an excellent job so far."

A look at what Coffey has accomplished behind the scenes:

Operating revenue/corporate participation: Coffey said the team has met its goal, which was to raise $350,000 before the opener through its public stock offering. Shares cost $10 and the minimum investment is 250 shares or $2,500, a commitment that gives the investor two season tickets for two years. The team can raise up to $1 million through the stock offering.

Coffey said the team also has raised more than $250,000 through corporate sponsorship. The sponsorships give businesses the chance to promote themselves through program or arena advertising, promotions during the game or game sponsorship. More than 50 businesses are involved in the program.

Coffey said it will take about $1.3 million to operate the team and that half of that has been raised. The Hellcats also can generate revenue through ticket sales and merchandising items such as hats and T-shirts.

Tickets: Coffey said a little more more than 2,000 season tickets have been sold, including the stock offering and corporate sponsorships. The CBA record for season tickets is 3,012, set by the Yakima (Wash.) Sun Kings in the 1992-93 season.

The Hellcats offer five season ticket packages ranging from $150-$980 for their 28 homes games. Ticket packages should be announced next week. Single-game tickets, priced from $6$16, go on sale Nov. 1 at the Civic Center box office.

Hellcats officials said the team will need an average paid attendance of about 4,000 to break even.

Radio: Coffey said the team is looking for a station to carry all 56 games this season. He has talked to the Connecticut Radio Network, which includes 18 stations throughout the state, and every station in Hartford.

Coffey said he is currently talking with a station, but would not disclose which one.

"A month ago I don't think we would have done radio," Coffey said. "I'd say now we have better than a 50-50 chance."

Entertainment during games: Coffey said at every home game, in addition to halftime entertainment and the City Street Jammers, the Hellcats' dance team, there will be opportunities to win cars, cash, free dinners and merchandise such as car phones or fax machines, or discounts on other merchandise.

"There may be a stoppage of play, but there will never be stoppage of action," Coffey said. "You go to a Celtics game to see the Celtics win. You're going to go to a Hellcats game for the entertainment and to see us win. But the entertainment is first."

Status of players: The Hellcats have lost only one player, fourth-round pick Ted Jeffries, a forward from Virginia, who is playing for Murcia in Spain.

Everyone but Jackson, a guard from Alabama-Birmingham and the team's third-round pick, and former Central Connecticut guard Damian Johnson, taken in the seventh round of the CBA draft, has signed a contract or has indicated they will be in Hartford when veterans camp opens Nov. 1. In the CBA, that's as close to a

guarantee as a general manager can get. The Hellcats have invited 35 players to free agent camp, which runs until Friday.

Among them are former UConn players Phil Gamble and John Gwynn; former UNLV guard Anderson Hunt; Ron Moye of New Haven (and the University of Hartford); Troy McKoy of East Hartford (South Carolina); Martin Huckaby of Bristol (Howard University); Troy Bradford of Hamden (Fairfield); Greg Keith of Norwich (Fairfield); and Sharvez Brown of Bridgeport (Trinidad State College in Colorado).

The camp consists of two sessions today and Thursday (10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-7 p.m.) and one Friday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). The camp is open to the public